A 10.38-carat fancy purple-pink diamond known as the Marie-Thérèse diamond, linked to Marie Antoinette's only surviving child, sold for $14 million at Christie's New York on June 17, far exceeding its $3–5 million estimate. The jewel, reworked by Joel Arthur Rosenthal into a ring with a fleur-de-lis motif, was originally part of a tiara and passed through generations of European royalty before being sold at Sotheby's Geneva in 1996. The auction also featured the Blue Belle, a sapphire necklace estimated at $8–12 million.
The sale sets a world record for both a fancy pink diamond and a jewel designed by Joel Arthur Rosenthal, underscoring the enduring market appeal of gems with royal provenance. The Marie-Thérèse diamond's dramatic price surge continues a trend of Marie Antoinette-affiliated jewels far exceeding estimates, as seen with her diamond bracelets in 2021. The result highlights how historical narratives and scarcity drive extraordinary premiums in the high-end jewelry market.